A magistrate has asked Naivas Supermarket to consider giving a man 20 litres of cooking oil and one packet of milk which the man shoplifted after he told the court that he lost his job and wanted to venture into the fast food business.
"I know shoplifting is a crime and as I return the exhibit to the complainant, I ask the supermarket to consider giving the cooking oil back to this man whom we have listened to and noted that he is sincere," Magistrate Francis Andayi said.
In his ruling, Andayi further asked the probation officer to interview the 30-year-old man and file a report in court by September 5, 2021, to ascertain whether his narrative is true or false before sentencing him for the said offence.
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Nelson Chuma Okelo who pleaded guilty to the offence lamented to the court that he lost his job at Tuskys Supermarket after it collapsed and that he cannot afford to feed his wife and two children.
"I stole the cooking oil to start a chips business so as to provide for my family. Your honour, I have no means to feed my family. I was desperate," Nelson told the court.
According to the charge sheet, the former Tuskys Supermarket cashier is alleged that on September 1, 2021 at Naivas Supermarket on Moi Avenue in Nairobi, stole 20 litres of Ufuta oil whose value was ksh4,203 and a packet of KCC Gold crown Milk 500ml valued at Ksh50.
According to a police report read in court, the accused went to the said supermarket, picked the items, walked past the cashier to outside of the supermarket.
He was stopped by the supermarket security and failed to produce a receipt of the said items leading to his eventual arrest before he was escorted to Central Police Station.
